Columns

The moribund Hillsville Rescue Squad will soon go to its final reward, but the former non-profit volunteer organization deserved a more dignified death than one that lingered for eight years.
It brings to mind a shuffling zombie, still somehow ambulatory but just a shell of its former self.
The first attempt to kill the rescue squad came as far back as 2004.
That’s when Carroll County officials padlocked the rescue squad station on Main Street in Hillsville after it came to light that a member used an ambulance to move furniture from Smyth County.

A recent graphic on a political website showed that, second only to Ohio, Virginia is the state most likely to decide the 2012 presidential election.
Virginia has already been a key state during the campaign, with President Obama’s “You didn’t build that” speech in Roanoke becoming the source of a Republican rallying cry, and Vice President Biden’s “They goin’ put y’all back in chains” tirade in Danville being another example of Joe being Joe.

For his 18 years as Hillsville town manager, Larry South clearly enjoyed working for his community.
While South took his responsibilities seriously, he also engaged in them with characteristic good cheer — an attitude that will be missed when he departs the office this week.
Willing to laugh at himself and shag in the imported beach sand at a downtown cruise-in when the occasion arose, South nonetheless delivered on many programs and policies during his unusually long term as the town’s chief administrator.

It takes a statesman to lead in a positive manner and at the same time withstand the combative tone that’s overtaken our public discussions in this country lately.
The Twin Counties seemed somewhat harbored from the turbulence that’s shaken national politics ever since the great recession was recognized in 2008.
The levee that held back the torrent of anger, bitterness and resentment seemed to fail last fall with the general election.

Local governments spend an enormous amount of time and resources trying to recruit new businesses and industries to come to the area, sowing seeds of future growth by flying in CEOs and cultivating relationships with potential employers.
Whether these efforts bear fruit is unpredictable, so it is always encouraging when a local idea sprouts, without the labor-intensive process of recruitment.
Such was the case with the new owners of the old Sawyers Furniture plant in West Galax, a building that had sat vacant for 15 years on Kenbrook Drive.

Larry Winget is an international speaker and a New York Times/Wall Street Journal best-selling author of five books, including “Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life." He has appeared on his own television show (“Big Spender,” on A&E), and is a regular contributor on many news shows on the topics of money, personal success, parenting, and business. His column is reprinted with permission.